Shock absorber



Sept. 20. 1927. w 1 43,050 4 C. C. BLACKMORE SHOCK ABSORBER Original Filed March 13, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORQ A TTORN E YS.

v 1,643 050 Sept 1927' v c. c. BLACKMORE SHOCK ABSORBER Original Filed March 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Se t. 20, 1927. 1,643,050

7 0. c. @LACKMORE SHOCK'ABSORBER Original Filed March 13, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet iNVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

CHARLES, c, BLACKMQBE, or DAYT N, @1110! 'snoo-x ABsonBnR. I

leflle of application Serial No. 098,363,

i My invention relates to shock absorbers.

I include Within the general term shock absorbers those devices-mounted on vehicles which dampen the spring action and dampen shock, either by absorbing it or by snub- It is the object of my invention to provide acombined shock absorbing and snub'bing apparatus which will have no appreciable effect upon the operation of the vehicle-with- .inalimited. range otmovement; but will ;;still have: a snubbing orshock absorbing 1, effect after theupassageo'f the parts over a *predeterminad distance. The object of this mechanism asshown in Figure 13;

is to allowthe spring of the vehicle to function normallyv within certain limits without interference a-nd then to be controlled when it gets'to a point of action whereit would "be so iuiccntrolledif left alone, 1 that the 20 results to vehicles or passengers 'would be nn-pleasantor disastrous. 7'

1 "It is a further object to provide/such devices which may attached and detached without disturbing an existing construction of a vehicle, sothat the devices can "be atqtac-h'ed either at the factory :or after leaving the factory by persons "of i very slight skill and with ordinary tools. i

It is a further-object to provide an apparatus, which. while cheap and strong, will accommocl'a-te itselflto the limited area in wvhich it is located and to the relative i a li igure 1 is a-front-elevation-nf iityrfiical I so - installation of-my apparatus'n-pon the g-front axle "and front portion Ford automobile; 1 V. a

Figure 2 is a section on the line of Figure 3 isa section 'Figure 1;- v i Figure-4 is a section .on the line test-of :Figureij of the frame 025 a e the as 3+3 of Figure 5 is a seetion' ionithe linefifi'fi :of v y -noted that these arms carry the bolts 17, which through the flexible element '18,

Fig-fire 4; w 1 Figurefi'fis a a *Fignre {his a sectionon the line of Fi me 6 1 ignieS iaa section *on the iine sf Figuiwi1tg leave-this mechanism undisturbed.

section on the line of filed March is, ie24 This application filed March 7, 1927. Serial 7N0. 173,51s. I

Figure 9 at detail are modified form of attachment of the piston rod to the axle; lhgure ill) is an end elevation with the axle section of the same mechanism as shown in Figure 9; I

Figure '11 isa side elevation partially in section -::of another'form of piston red attach-mentrtothe axle:

Figure an end elevation .oif.f1r1e :ha-

attachment to the axle; andzf Figure 16 is *afront elevation of the unechanism' shown in Figure 15.

Referringto the drawings in detai'lzj lie the radiator frame of a vehicle mounted 'npon t-he eross'frame 'member 2. This cross frame, member terminates in a bracket:

3. This bracket carrie s. the braces 4 and 5.

The frame ie-mounted upon the trans verse leaf spring 6; whichis suspended by a shackle 7, tea spring perch 8, whichis mounted in the axle l." It is desirable to lvfonnted lipon the frame 2 is a combined clamp and arm which consists of a frame embracing portion 10, "which has cutaway portionsil l :for engagement with the U- :shaped framel One end of this frame engaging port-ion is clamped to the frame by the Urbolt 1'2 and the nuts 13. This por- :=tion ofthe clamping member. is disposed "at an angle to thehorizontal. Its outwardly projecting arm 14 has its inner end clamped "to theiframe or the' bracket on the end of the frame by the :U-b'olt 15 and nuts 16 enter end of the arm 14; terminates in a yoke-having arms By observing Fig-' urer it will. be seen that a portion of this clam-p andarm is projected forwardl as at V lfig so that er-bumper may be bolted -t' ieret-o. Turning to the yoke arms'l o, it will be which is usually comqiosed' of fabric and ;:streng" and flexibl Embracing either end of the flexible plate of material 18 above and below the point of suspension by the bolts 17 are the parallel ends 19 ot the bands 20, which support the cylinder 21 by clamping it. These ends which embrace the side of the flexible plate 18 are bounded thereto by the bolts 21 and nuts Thus the cylinder can flex and twist slightly in various directions to accommodate its position to the movement ot the vehicle and the other parts composing this mechanism.

The cylinder 21 is a brace or steel tube tightly clamped by the bands 20. The upper end is a screw cap or there may be a cap fastened thereon by any well known means. The bottom is closed by asimilar cap 24 having a large opening 25. As in dicated, these caps are welded to the cylinder, but the exact manner of mounting is in'nnaterial. A bottom plate 26 is provided having a similar enlarged opening 27 and between the caps 23! and the bottom late 26 is located a. felt washer 28, which 15 of: lesser diameter than the cap, so that it can shift laterally. Through thiswasher passes the piston rod 29 which shittsthe washer 28, with which it closely engages. This washer is soaked with lubricant so that it makes an etlectivcseal against the entrance of dirt, dust, and the like. The piston rod 29 carries on its head a piston consisting of a plate 30. embraced by oppositely disposed cup-shaped *ashers 31. These washers in turn are embraced by the plate 32. The whole structure is held in position by the nuts 3?). The plate 30 is spaced from the walls oi the cylinder 21, so that there may be some rocking of the plates and rod with respect to the cylinder walls. which the yielding washer 31 will acconn'uodate without a loss of compression. 1

The anchoring. of the lower end of, the piston rod is of importance and in the pre il'errcd form is shown flexibly anchored. so that side sway of the vehicle or some forward longing of it will be accommodated. The lower end of this piston rod is anchored in a plate of flexible material 34 of the same character as the flexible material 18. Nuts and washers and 36 attach the piston rod to the plate 3 A U-shaped supporting plate 37 is provided, having a cutaway portion 38 in the top thereof, through which the end of the piston rod passes. The rim of: this plate 37 supports the edge of the flexible plate The bottom of this plate 37 has Vshaped cutaway portions 39 for mounting upon the similarly "formed top of the axle 9. This prevents shifting of the plate 37 on the axle.

Mounted above this flexible plate 34 and embracing it is an annular plate 40. having a cutaway portion 41 to permit of the plate 34 flexing and to permit of the piston rod 29 rocking. Preferably integrally with this plate ell) is a laterally extending hook 42, which is hooked on to the stanchion 8 to prevent the lateral shifting of the attachment. .Iivcts 43 pass through the plates 37, 34; and 4:0 to maintain the parts in alignment. In addition thereto, the edges of the plates 37 are turned up as at 4 1-. to embrace the sides oi the flexible plate A U-bolt 45 passes under the axle and through the plate 10. This clamps the entire attachment to the axle. i

It will thus be seen that the entire equipment will accommodate itself: to the varying positions of the vehicle. i

In Figures 9 and 10 there is illustrated a substantially circular springplate 6 attached to the piston rod by the bolt 47 and to the axle'by plate 48 and the U-bolt 45. In Figures 11 and 12 the lower end of the piston rod is expanded into an eye 49 and attached by a :bolt 50 to a vertical clamping member 51, which conforms to the I-beam axle. This vertical clamp 51 is non-flexible and held to the axle by a. U-bolt 52.

A modified form of suspending the cylinder is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. A U-shapcd spring is mounted on either arm 15. such spring being designated 53. The spring is attached to the ends 19 by the bolts 21 to the clamps 20 on the cylinder 21.

The Figures 15 and 16 illustrate another form of piston rod attachment to the axle, consisting of the following mechanism. A

U-shapcd clamp 5 .1. is mounted on the axle with positioning lingers 55. TheU-bolt -15 passes through this clamp and attaches it to the axle. The upper part of the clamp between the arms thereof istilled by two plates of flexible material 56, embracing the lower end of the piston rod 29, which is provided with an eye 57. 'llhrough this eye and through the plates and clamp is passed. a bolt 58. This clamp is formed with spaced arms and the ends of the flexible plates 56 are connected to these arms by the bolts 59.

Turning to the operation of this device, when thespring flexes to a limited degree these is no appreciable compression of the air suction set up in the cylinder. Thus the normal operation of the springs within limits is not disturbed.

However, if the shock is more violent than can be comfortably absorbed by the spring mechanism on the vehicle, the air abovet-he piston will begin to compress and thus the shock will be resisted and dampened. It will be observed that the rate of this resistance will be out of synchronism with the rate of vibration of the leaf spring 6, thus still further serving to dampen the shocks passing therethrough, the nonsynchronism of resistance being due to the fact that the leaf spring has a predetermined rate of vibration, whereas the medium under compres- I vsion does not have any appreciable rate of vibration.

In like manner the rebound of the vehicle will be checked bythe downward movement ofthe piston in the cylinder, as considerable suction will be set up. It will be understood that the piston is lubricated spring and axle, a bracket mounted on the frame of the vehicle having one end-extendingoutwardly from the vehicle frame, a cyl-, inder suspended from the end of said arnr and adapted to move relative thereto about the end of the arm as an axis, a piston rod and piston working in said cylinder, and means of attaching said piston rod to the axle below said 'cylinderj 2. In combination in a shock absorbing mechanism associated with a'vehicleframe, spring and axle, a bracket mounted on the frame of the vehicle having one end extending outwardly from the vehicle frame, a cylinder suspended from the end of said arm and adapted to move relative thereto about the end of the arm as an axis, a piston rod and piston working in said cylinder, and means of attaching said piston rod to the axle below said cylinder, said bracket, arm,

cylinder, piston rod, and axle being located in substantially the same plane. i

3. In combination in a shock absorbing mechanism associated with a vehicle frame, spring'and axle, a bracket mounted on the frame of the vehicle having one end extending outwardly fromthe vehicle frame, a cyl- I inder suspended froni'the end of said arm and adapted to move relative thereto about the end of the arm as an axis, a piston rod and piston working in said cyhnder, means of attaching said piston rod to the axle below said cylinder, said bracket, arm, cylinder, piston, piston rod, and axle being located in substantially the same plane, and

said means of attachment of the bracket to spring and axle, a bracket having an outwardly extending arm terminating in a yoke,

flexible plates'carried by said yoke, bands embracing the free ends of said plates between the ends of the bands, the central portion of the bands embracing a cylinder, a cylinder, a piston and piston rod working in said cylinder,a flexible plate mounted on the axle below the cylinder, the piston rod being attached to the center of said plate.

5. In combination in a shock absorbing mechanism associated with a vehicle frame, spring and axle, a bracket having an outwardly extending arm terminating in a yoke,

flexible plates carried by said yoke, bands embracing the free ends of said plates between the ends of the bands, the central portion of the bands embracing a cylinder, a

cylinder, a piston and piston rod working in said cylinder, a flexible plate mounted on the axle below the cylinder, the piston rod being attached to the center of said plate,

and means of preventing shifting of said plate on the axle relative to the axle.

6. In combination, a vehicle, a leaf spring and an axle located one above the other in the same plane, a bracket mounted on said frame having an outwardly extending arm ing fore 'and' aft and laterally, means of anchoring said flexible plate and shifting preventing means on said axle, the lower end ofsaid piston rod being connected to said plate, the parts being so arrangedthat the cylinder and piston rod may rock with respect to the frame and the axle.

7. I11 combination, a vehicle frame, a transversely located spring and an axle, a transversely located outwardly extending cylint-der support having its inner end attached to the frame and its outer end supporting a cylinder, a' cylinder adapted to rock on the outer end of the bracket, a piston and piston rod working in said cylinder, means of attaching the piston rod to the axlethat it may rock with respect thereto, the parts be ing so arranged that the action of the spring will not be affected within a limited range,

but outside of that range will be progres- V sively affected for the absorbing of shock and the snubbing of rebound. V

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CHARLES o. BLAOKMORE, 

